PURNELL, Carson Edward Law
| Service Number: | N165868 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 July 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 41st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Chinchilla, Queensland, Australia, 17 January 1914 |
| Home Town: | Murwillumbah, Tweed, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter's Labourer |
| Died: | Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia, 2 January 1982, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Murwillumbah Lawn Cemetery Burial Plot: Section 3/229 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 4 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Private, N165868, 41st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, N165868 | |
| 3 Mar 1943: | Discharged Private, N165868, 41st Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Mar 1943: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, N165868 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Private, N165868, 41st Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sue Smith
Carson Edward Law Purnell was born on the 17th January 1914 in Chinchilla QLD, the youngest child of 8 children born to his parents Abraham and Ethel Purnell. He had 4 sisters and 3 brothers.
Carson’s pre-war occupation was as a carpenter’s labourer. He enlisted in the CMF (Commonwealth Military Force) at Murwillumbah NSW on the 4th July 1941 aged 27. His rank was a Private, his Service Number N165868 and he’s described in his records as being 5ft 5ins tall, with blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He was posted to the 41 Infantry Battalion and on 1st October 1941 reported to the Army Camp at Rutherford NSW for training.
On completion of training he was detached to the NCF (Newcastle Covering Force) to complete a medical dressing course. The NCF was an Australian militia force responsible for protecting the strategically important Newcastle region in New South Wales and its approaches during World War II. He rejoined his Unit in January 1943 and was immediately detached to the 1st Infantry Brigade. In May 1942, while serving with the Brigade, he was admitted to the 1st Field Ambulance with Rubella. He was discharged 8 days later.
On the 5th July 1942 Carson went A.W.L. for 2 days and was duly admonished. He rejoined his Unit on the 12th July. The next entry in service records on the 14th July states that he was given leave without pay and exempted from serving in the Army to work in the sugar industry till January 1943. At that time he was placed on the “X” list which records a member of a unit who is absent, for one reason or another, to maintain its establishment. On the 23rd February 1943 he reported to the NSW GDD (General Details Depot) and on the 3rd March was discharged at the age of 29 being required for an essential occupation.
Carson married Vera Davis on the 10th February 1943 at the Salvation Army Citadel in Murwillumbah NSW. Their home was established at 63 Commercial Road, Murwillumbah and they went on to have 5 children. Carson passed away on the 2nd January 1982 aged 67. Vera lived another 20 years and passed away in 2002 aged 81. They are buried beside each other in the Murwillumbah Lawn Cemetery NSW.
Carson Edward Law Purnell was awarded:
War Medal 1939-1945
Australian Service Medal 1939-1945
Australian Defence Medal
Respectfully submitted
Sue Smith April 2020
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